Toy spinner of the top type



June 23, 1959 E; MADARAS 'ETAL 2,891,351

TOP SPINNER OF THE TOP TYPE Filed June 4, 1954 IN ENTORS. z 51%) BY 30% flffiiw 7 "a" wvwy United Stats -atnt fiice 2,891,351 Patented June 23, 1959 This invention relates'to spinning toys and more particularly to spinning tops'having a variety of applications-foramusement'puiposes, although certain features thereof may be employed With-equal advantage for other purposes.

It contemplates more especially the provision of a more versatile spinning top havingthe dual operating characteristics of dilferent spinning tops and constructed for more versatile functions to-m'aintain the interests of children.

Numerous types oftops have heretofore been proposed, butthese are usually single purpose in function and thus limited interest-inuse. Without entailing any appreciable additional expense in construction, a more versatile spinner top has been'provided which can be spun while verticallysuspended with to and fro string movement much li-ke the'-so called Yo Yo top orsurface spun on either side by resort'to a different-string applied-in spiral relationwithanother s'urface'thereon or even hand spun for -arriusement.

The teachingsof'th'e presentinvention permit the use of the spinner top as a'diabolo top involvingito and fro horizontal movement byastring held horizontally between both hands to walk'thetop therebetween. Then, too, the top consisting ofseparable confronting bodies may be adjusted to'provide -a-meas'ure'of spin speedcontrol and 'to utilize one portion thereof as an effective manual spinner.

mate the-movement -andtprovide additional variations of amusement to arouse andmaintain'the'interestofthe users.

One object ofthe present invention istosimplify the construction and improve the operation of devices of the character mentioned.

Another object is to. provide auspinner topttructure having multiple spinning characteristics and functions.

Still another object is to provide an' improved spinner top constructionhaving'vertical suspended toand fro string spinning and horizontal surface spinning structural features.

A further object is to provide an improved spinner top construction consisting of confronting spaced circular bodies with axial spinners having vertical suspended to and fro string spinning and horizontal surface spinning structural features.

A still further object is to provide an improved spinner top construction consisting of confronting spaced separable and adjustably connected circular bodies with axial spinners having vertical suspended to and fro string spinning and horizontal surface spinning structural features.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the 2 following description ofan' illustrated embodiment 'of th'e present invention.

In the drawing! Figure 1 is an edge view in elevation of the spinner top embodying features of the presentinvention, it being illustrated at thetopmost position of a vertical to and fro string'susp'ended spin. 7

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same top illustrated in its surface supportedhorizontal spinning position.

Figure 3 is a front view in elevation of the top'in its 'horizontal-'spin'position with a spherical body supported in the top dished confronting member to utilize 'it for greater animated action. Figure 4 is'a front view in elevation of one portion of the two confronting separable :bodies used as a manual or hand spinner.

'FigureS is 'azside' pla'nview-ofthetop utilized as a double top "responsive to the :suppor-ts of the winding J string between Fbo'th spacedha'ndsrof the player and impartingswift to-and fro'movement thereto.

Figure 6 is an edge*view' in .elevatio'n of atop disposed verticallv-With'jparts thereofrshown in section to clarify the details.

Figure 7 :is' an enlarged view in 'end' vertical elevation of the top shoWn'in' Figuresil, 21an'd 3.

Figure 8 is a view simiIarLtOIFi'gure-G of a'rnodified top that consists of permanently joined :confrontingsbodies.

The structure selectedifor.illustration. is notintended to serve as a limitation Tupon the'scopetoriteachings :of the invention,:but issxmerelyiillustrativeithereof. There may be considerable Yvariations and adaptations of all or part of theteachings'dependingiupon the dictatesiof commercial practice. The. present embodiment comprises a pair of confronting circular bodies1011 whichiarc preferably through not essentially cast, molded or otherwise shalped from plastic or otherisui-tablemateltial. The

confronting bodies 10-411 are spaced from each other by adjacent fiat circular surfaces having contacting discshaped portionst-herewithto maintain-the confronting bodies .in minimum spaced relation as willvappear more fullyz hereinafter.

The confronting axial hub .bosses 14-15 have --upwardly divergent tapered, peripheral edges"16-a-17 which support-spirally wound convolutions of the 1 finer string 18 between thespace defined-slay the co'nfrontingbody fiatsurfaces =.1-2-13. .Theeconfrontingbody members 10-11 have outwardly projecting axial spin heads or trunnions 19-40 formed integral with-theoutwardly dished concavo-convexo shaped surfaces 2 1--22.

Thetrunnions1 9-20 provide spin points-2324-Which will support "the. top bodies:10-11 in a balanced-horizontal spinning ,position for contained rotation with minimunrfrictionaon. a smooth-surface. This-spin is effected responsive to throwingthetop bodies .10- 11 horizontallyand pulling-a spirally wound comparatively thickenstringZS. The: string 25 is spirally and frictionally wound around the bo'dynconvexperipheral edges 2627 which merge with the flat confronting surfaces 1213 and define the upturned peripheral outer edges 2829 of each confronting body 10-11.

The trunnions 1920 extend axially out for a distance of approximately twice the depth of the dished concave bodies 10-11, and are tapered in to substantially the rim of depth of the dished bodies 1011. From this line the trunnions 1920 extend straight outwardly to define knurled cylindrical end portions providing convenient finger gripping surfaces to impart a manual or hand spinning twist thereto at the election of the user.

An elongated stud 30 preferably through not essentially threaded along the length thereof, is permanently embedded in and axially through the boss 14 to extend into the trunnion 19, this being preferably accomplished durposite trunnion 20 through the axial boss 15 on the inner flat surface 13 of the top body 11. With this arrangement, the inner end of the finer string 18 can be anchored to the stud 30-31 and the top can be spun to and fro along a vertical path as illustrated in Figures 1 and 6.

It should be noted that the fine string 18 freely enters the space between the flat confronting walls of the bodies -1011 and the divergent tapered peripheries of the bosses 1415 will keep the spirally wound string 18 centrally of the space thereabove and preclude wedging between the fiat body surfaces 1213. The coarser string 25 is of a diameter slightly greater than the space between the fiat body surfaces 1213 to preclude entry therebetween and confine its spiral winding to the peripheral edge space between the convex peripheries 26-27 of the confronting body members 10-11, these strings 18 and 25 being used separately for the different spin functions.

The threaded projecting stud portion 31 in threaded separable engagement with the threaded bore 33, provides for variations in the spacing of the confronting body members 10-11 to vary the speed of vertical suspended spinning. The body members 10-11 can also be separated and the body element 10 used as a hand spinning top (Figure 4). Together, the body members 1011 can be used as a diabolo top (Figure 5) or spun as an ordinary top (Figure 2) by resort to the coarser string 25 convoluted and spirally wound over the convex peripheral edges 26-27. As a vertically string suspended to and fro spinner, the finer string 18 is used (Figure 1) with the inner end slip knotted around the axial confronting tapered bosses 14-15 or anchored into the slotted stud portion 31.

While the top is spinning on a horizontal surface, a small spherical ball 34 may be deposited on the upper dished body member 21 or 22 depending upon which is upright, and a highly amusing animated action results much like a roulette wheel effect (Figure 3). Should commercial practice so dictate, the threaded axial connecting stud 30 may be dispensed with and integral complemental tapered stud 30' and bore 31' provided (Figure 8) for press-fitted connection with the axial bosses in contact to present the upwardly divergent tapered peripheries 16'--17 for central confinement of the spirally wound string thereover and between the fiat surfaces of the body members 10'11.

While we have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, it must be understood that the invention is capable of considerable variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselvm of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A spinning top comprising wholly separable dished bodies having axial spin heads projecting outwardly therefrom, means for maintaining said bodies in adjustably connected spaced relation for receiving a spirally wound string therebetween on different circumferences to spin said bodies while suspended from said string, and curved peripheral confronting edges on said dished bodies to define an annular peripheral string winding edge for surface spinning of said bodies on one or the other of said axial spin heads, said bodies being wholly separable to enable each to be used as an independent spinning element.

2. A spinning top comprising wholly separable confronting circular dished bodies in adjustably connected spaced relation, curved peripheral confronting edges on said circular dished bodies to define an annular peripheral string-winding edge, said curved peripheral confronting edges on each of said circular dished bodies communicating with the spaced confronting circular bodies, and axial spin heads projecting outwardly from each of said confronting bodies to balance and effect the support thereof in a surface spin position on one or the other of said spin heads, said space between said confronting circular bodies and said curved peripheral edges serving to spirally receive strings of different thicknesses therebetween on dif ferent circumferences for a variety of spinning operations, said bodies being wholly separable to enable each to be used as an independent spinning element.

3. A spinning top comprising wholly separable bodies having fiat confronting surfaces, means for adjustably connecting said separable bodies, axial bosses on said fiat surfaces having tapered peripheral edges to define a surface for spirally wound string disposed between said confronting bodies, and curved peripheral confronting edges on said circular bodies to define an annular peripheral string Winding edge, and outwardly projecting axial spin heads on each of said circular confronting bodies, said bodies being wholly separable to enable each to be used as an independent spinning element.

4. A spinning top comprising wholly separable bodies having fiat confronting surfaces, axial bosses on said flat surfaces having tapered peripheral edges to define a surface for spirally wound string disposed between said con fronting bodies, curved peripheral confronting edges on said circular bodies to define an annular peripheral string winding edge, and outwardly projecting axial spin heads on each of said circular confronting bodies, and means for adjustably connecting said confronting bodies to vary their spaced relation for spin speed control, said bodies being wholly separable to enable each to be used as an independent spinning element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,866,697 Blackburn July 12, 1932 2,579,022 Spencer et a1. Dec. 18,

FOREIGN PATENTS 744,245 France Jan. 21, 193" 

